Salary Benchmark

How to use these benchmarks

These figures are gross annual base salary — before tax, employer contributions, and benefits. They cover the most common hiring markets for EU/UK/US tech startups, sourced from Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, and local job boards (2024–2025 data).

The “market median” band (mid-level) is the right target for a first hire into a role. Going below the 40th percentile — roughly the low end of the junior band — signals budget constraints to candidates and leads to fast churn. Going above the senior band is rarely necessary unless you need a specific lead or architect.

What about benefits and equity?

Early-stage startups often offset a below-median salary with equity (0.1–1% for first 5 hires is common), flexible remote work, and faster career growth. If your cash comp is 10–15% below market, a meaningful equity grant can close the gap. Beyond 20% below market, equity rarely compensates — hire at market rate.

Frequently asked

What is the average salary for a software engineer in the UK?

Around £70,000 gross for a mid-level engineer. Junior: £55,000–£65,000. Senior: £85,000–£105,000. London adds roughly 15–25%.

What is the average software engineer salary in Germany?

Around €70,000 gross for a mid-level engineer. Berlin and Munich are broadly in line with the national tech average (unlike London’s UK premium).

Are these salaries for remote or in-office roles?

The figures reflect the local market for the listed country regardless of remote vs. in-office. Fully remote roles that hire globally sometimes compress toward lower-cost markets; hybrid/in-office roles in expensive cities often sit at the high end of the range.